Can utensil and opener



June 19, 1934. BAlER 1,963,222

CAN UTENSIL AND OPENER Filed Dec. 12, 1932 & /5 Z /2 a 'r Fl Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED sTA-rss PATENT? OFFICE The invention relates to can utensils and openers and has for its object to provide a device of this character particularly adapted for use in connection with evaporated milk cans, and provided with means, whereby when the device is forced downwardly onto the can end, discharge and vent openings will be formed therein by tubular piercing members carried by the device.

A further object is to bifurcate the ends of the tubular discharge members so they will easily pierce the can end and to provide triangular iercing members on the bifurcated ends for engaging the inner side of the can end for holding the device thereon against the expansive action of compressible washers interposed between the device and can end.

A further object is to pivotally mount the vent and discharge members so that after the piercing operation they can be pivotally moved to move the triangular shaped piercing members out of registration with the apertures they have previously formed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a conventional form of milk can, showing the device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the device and end of a can.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one side of the device'and one corner of a can, showing the device after the punching of the holes, and just before the rotation for the locking operation.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the spouts.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device showing in dotted lines the initial position of the spouts before the turning and locking operation.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the can and a horizontal section through the spouts below the washers, showing the pierced holes and the triangular piercing members turned to locking position.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a conventional form of evaporated milk can, and 2 a cover-shaped member disposed thereon. The cover member 2 has pivotally mounted at 3 therein arcuate discharge spouts 4, through which the contents of the can 1 are discharged after the device is in place on the can; however, during the discharge of the contents, one or the other of the discharge spouts will act as a vent according to which way the can is tilted. The ends 5 of the spouts are bifurcated at 6 so as to form piercing members and spot welded or otherwise secured at 7 to one of the ends 5 of each spout is a triangular shaped piercing member 8, which performs a double function. Piercing members 8 are preferably formed from a hard steel, harder than the spout and when the cover 2 is forced downwardly onto the can 1, and the spouts are rotated slightly or ninety degrees as shown in Figure 5, they underlie the upper end9 of the can and positively hold the cover 2 in position on the can. To insure a leakproof connection between the piercing members and the top 9 of the can, and to close the pierced elongated apertures 10 formed by the piercing member 8, resilient washers 11 are provided. It will be noted by referring to Figure 3, when the cover 2 is forced downwardly; the washers 11 are compressed, thereby sealing the can openings. In Figure 3, the first stage of the cover placing operation is taking place and the cover 2 is held on the can endwhen the beads 12 of the cover spring over the bead 13 on the end of the can, thereby holding the resilient washers l1 compressed.

Spouts 4 are preferably provided with annular beads 14, which engage the upper sides of the cover 2, and the resilient washers are interposed between the inner side of the cover 2 and the upper ends of the triangular shaped piercing members 8; therefore, it will be seen that the cover with its spouts can be sold as a separate unit to be applied to conventional forms of milk cans. By pivoting the members hthe spout welding or otherwise securing triangular piercing members 8 is facilitated. In placing the covers in position on the can, the spouts are preferably disposed in the dotted line positions a shown in Figure 5 and then the cover 2 is forced downwardly for the piercing operation, during which the elongated apertures 10 are formed, after which the spouts are rotated to the full line positions shown in Figure 5, so that the triangular piercing members 8 will underlie the can end 9 as shown in Figure 6.

From the above it will be seen that a device is provided for cans for applying spouts thereto, which is simple in construction, the parts being the spout, whereby a can piercing blade is formed for the piercing end of the spout, said V sl rap e g1 member also forming a horizontal shoulder for engaging the inside of the can upon a partial rotation of the spout.

2. The combination with a pointed piercing end of a can discharge spout extending through a can end, of a V-shaped plate secured to said piercing end of the spout and formed from harder metal than the spout, said plate being fiat and secured to. a curved portion of the spout piercing end, said plate forming a flat piercing member and in addition thereto a straight elongated shoulder for engagement Within the can upon partial rotation of the spout.

- HENRY BAIER. 

